Pliable tape structure

ABSTRACT

A flexible longitudinally continuous tape construction is disclosed for use in joining mating edges of juxtaposed members, the tape having an X-like configuration transversely of its length to provide legs adapted to receive and be secured to the edges of the members to be joined. The tape is capable of serving as a pliable hinge to permit articulation of the joined members, or it may also serve simply as a binding for joining members intended to be fixed relative to each other. The tape construction combines longitudinally continuous marginal web portions or carriers, forming the extremities of the legs of the X, with longitudinally spaced strand or equivalent connector means running crosswise of and interconnecting pairs of marginal web portions. The connector means intersect and interlock forming the axis of the X-like configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copendingapplication Ser. No. 859,619, filed Sept. 22, 1969 .[...]. .Iadd.nowabandoned..Iaddend.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to continuous length, pliable tape structuresuseful in joining mating edges of adjacent members for making rigid orhinged connection between such members.

2. Prior Art Background

The limiting strength of conventional hinged or jointed structuresutilizing sheet or panel members to form the structure is the ability ofsuch members to carry localized stresses at points of attachment. Therehas accordingly existed for some time a need for better means of joiningthe edges of materials having relatively low resistance to localizedloading stresses, such as the imposed by rivets screws, spot welding andthe like. Sheet or panel materials which are particularly involvedinclude formed plastic sheet, foamed.[.core/stressed.]..Iadd.core-stressed.Iaddend.skin laminates,corrugated board, chipboard, felt laminates and similar light weight,low cost but easily rupturable stock which is commonly used infabricating containers or other vessels, display structures, protectivetable pads, folio covers, etc.

Various tape constructions for joining mating edges of such materialshave been advanced heretofore. A common arrangement is illustrated inPats. Nos. 589,504, 1,260,197, 1,833,469 and 3,035,752 where thejunction is formed by fabric or paper strips or tabs which are simplyglued to the faces of the members to be joined. One particulardifficulty with these arrangements is their poor resistance to peelingof the tabs from the faces of the joined members when forces are appliedtending to move the members bodily relative to each other. Another formis illustrated in U.S. Pats. Nos. Re. 18,204, 1,998,036, 2,025,926, and3,442,415. This form of joint-forming tape is characterized generally bythe employment of two, coextending tapes which are stitched togetheralong their center lines to form an X-like configuration in crosssection. The legs of the X are then glued or otherwise secured to themargins of the members to be joined. This represents an improvement overflat tape but the stitching, falling as it must at the axis of thehinge, weakens the structure at its most critical location. Stillanother approach used for hingedly joining members is represented by theconstructions shown in Pats. Nos. 46,071, 570,365 and 2,219,524. Thearrangements there shown are not longitudinally continuous of the joinededges, so that a plurality of separate hinges must be used; and theirattachment to the members to be joined presents problems. Molded plastichinges of the type illustrated in Pats. Nos. 3,202,310 and 3,301,430 aredesigned to provide a continuous joint along the mating edges, but hereagain a problem is encountered in providing suitable means for securingsuch joint-forming constructions to the panel members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pliable tape structure which can bemanufactured in continuous lengths and easily cut to any desired lengthfor application to the members to be joined, much the same as ordinarypressure-sensitive tape is applied to a surface but which avoids theshort-comings of prior tape arrangements discussed above. The novel tapestructure is designed to take advantage of the highest tensilestrength-to-weight ratio of any material form, namely that of thefilament. The invention applies this high strength property to hinges orjoint-forming tape without creating localized stress points in theresulting structure, as the tape configuration puts the entireattachment area (glue or other bonding agent) in shear only andeliminates peel forces.

As mentioned, the novel tape may serve to join both articulated andnon-articulated members and one of the principal objectives of theinvention is to provide a hinge or joint-forming tape structure whichaffords uniform distribution of attachment stress over as large an areaas practical of the members which it is desired to join, therebyavoiding localized or concentrated stresses at points of attachment,while minimizing susceptibility to peeling. In this way, advantage canbe taken of materials of low cost but stress-oriented nature, such aspaperboard, expanded or foamed plastic, etc., for use as basicstructural members, without the need and attendant expense of specialreinforcement or auxiliary construction at the point of attachment. Theinvention makes possible better application of maximum materialproperties to achieve great strength-to-weight ratios in joinedstructures.

Other objectives include greater ease of application of the tape tomembers to be joined, and provision for specialized engineeringapplications, such as that involved in rolling hinges or in hingedlyjoining members whose mating edges are curved.

Use of the novel tapes for purposes other than hinging applications isof advantage where members to be secured together are subjected toloading or other forces tending to shift one member bodily relative tothe other. The invention enables loadbearing structures such as displaystands, mock-ups of prototype equipment, cartons or containers ofvarious configurations, to be made of relatively low strength sheetstock. By joining members or sections of these devices with tape of thedesign herein disclosed, the inadequacy in peel strength of conventionalpressure-sensitive adhesive or mending tape is largely overcome.

In accordance with the teaching herein, engineering advantage is takenof inherent tensile strength in pliable fabric, strand or sheetmaterials, when used in the tape configurations disclosed, to formcontinuous length tape structures which are easily applied to themembers to be joined, and which distribute the attachment stressesuniformly over the adjacent edges of joined members, thereby reducingthe chance for failure of the materials at such locations.

Briefly, the tape structures of the invention are comprised generally oftwo essential sets of elements. One set of elements consists of pliablestrands, or equivalent connector means, disposed to run transversely ofthe joint to be formed. The other set of elements consists of pliableweb portions or carriers disposed to run longitudinally of the joint tobe formed. Each transverse strand or connector element interconnects twoof the longitudinal web portions and serve to support load stressespurely in tension, i.e. the maximum strength property of the strand. Atleast some of the cross strands alternate with .[.the.]. .Iadd.and.Iaddend.intersect other such strands along the axis of the tape,forming an X-like configuration in cross-section of the tape. Adhesiveis applied to the confronting faces of legs in two transversely orientedquadrants of the X for bonding the tape to the margins of the members tobe joined, whereby the margins are clamped between adjacent legs inquadrants of the X-like tape on opposite sides of the tape axis.

Various embodiments of this basic combination and modifications thereofare illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are describedhereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a preferred form oftape structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view in perspective showing onemethod of forming the finished tape of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showingrearrangement of the tape upon removal from the forming mandrels seen inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 3, showing an arrangement forfabricating a number of tapes simultaneously;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another arrangement for formingmultiple tapes;

FIGS. 7-12 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of different types ofhinged members and hinging arrangements using the tape of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of hinged membersemploying a modified type of tape hinge;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of a jig structure illustrating theformation of a tape hinge of the type shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another form of tapehinge construction;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14 illustrating a manner offorming the tape hinge of FIG. 15;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are fragmentary views of additional tape hingeconstructions;

FIGS. 19 and 19A are perspective views of tape structures similar toFIG. 1 but employing multiply grouped strands or strips crossing on thebias;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a tape structure similar to FIG. 1 butincorporating pressure-sensitive adhesive and protective release strips;

FIG. 21 illustrates the manner of applying the tape of FIG. 20 to onemember which is to be joined to another;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of an integrally woven tapestructure incorporating the invention;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a woven structure from which tapesof the form shown in FIG. 22 are cut;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another form of tape incorporating theinvention, in which the manner of forming the tape is illustrated;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the finished tape seen in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 illustrates still another form of tape embodying the invention,and a means of fabricating such tape;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the finished tape of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the tape structure of FIG.26;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another form of tape and a method ofmaking it;

FIGS. 30 and 31 are cross-sectional views of the tape of FIG. 29 inpartially completed and fully completed condition;

FIG. 32 is a broken view in perspective elevation of a foamedcore/stressed skin panel member having a curved edge with a tape securedalong such edge; and

FIG. 33 is a similar view showing a pair of curved-edge members of FIG.32 joined by the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Tape structure 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 is composed of alternating runsof intersecting flexible strands 22 producing an X-configuration, andcarrier strips 24 running lengthwise of the tape axis in transverselyopposite quadrants of the X. Each of carrier strips 24 is foldedlengthwise at 25 and extends continuously between adjacent legs in eachof two opposite quadrants of the X. Each of strands 22 is secured at itsopposite or cross-axis ends to margins of opposite carrier strips 24 bysuitable adhesive. Collectively the strands in each opposite pair oflegs of the X form a mat in conjunction with the associated carrierstrips. In order to allow free intersection and lateral cross-over ofthe strands at the tape axis, the carrier strips are positioned todispose their fold lines 25 slightly outwardly of the tape axis.

As will be more fully described presently, tape 20 is adapted to beapplied along the mating edges of two members to be joined. To this endthe edges of the members are received between adjacent tape legs intransversely opposite quadrants of the X-configuration, and adhesive isapplied to the confronting faces of such legs to bond them to themargins or edges of the members. It is apparent that the members to bejoined may be received in either of the two different sets of opposedquadrants of the tape. Where the members are received in the quadrantsin which the carrier strips 24 are located, the carrier strips serve asbarriers to prevent glue or other adhesive working into the axis of thetape. That is important where the tape is used as a hinged connectionbetween members, since glue in the axis will impair the freedom of thehinging action of the connecting strands 22. Also the carrier stripsserve in such case to prevent wear of the strands on a rough or sharpedge of the hinged member. In cases where the tape is employed simplyfor joining non-articulated members, these considerations are not soimportant; in fact it may even be of advantage to use the alternate setof quadrants so that direct glued contact of the strands 22 to themembers being joined is obtained.

In the preferred construction shown in FIG. 1, hinge 20 is intended tobe quite flexible so that it may be easily applied in a manner similarto that in which ordinary pressure-sensitive tape is applied to asurface. For that reason both the carrier strip 24 and the transversestrands 22 are of pliable material. Typically useful materials for thecarrier strips include paper, more especially craft or crepe paper,woven textile webbing or light plastic film or tape. In fact varioustypes of presently available commercial pressure-sensitive masking tapecan conveniently be used for the carrier strip. Strands 22 may bemultifilament textile threads or cords, natural or synthetic, as well asmonofilament strands of organic or inorganic, e.g. metallic, material.

In FIGS. 2-4 a method is illustrated for handfabrication of tape of thetype shown in FIG. 1. To this end there is provided a pair of elongatedflat mandrels 34 suitably supported in edgewise spaced parallelrelation. Cord 36 is wound about the mandrels in figure-8 manner to formthe mat of strands 22 comprising the connector elements of the completedhinge. Pressure-sensitive tape is then applied over the cord on oppositefaces of the mandrels to secure all of the courses or runs of the cordin fixed position relative to each other. A knife or other sharpinstrument is then used to sever the terminal bends of each convolutionof the cord where is passes around the outer edges of mandrels 34,cutting along plane c--c as shown in FIG. 3. The preliminary tape hingeassembly may then be easily slipped off the mandrels. The legs of thetape hinge are then folded into reverse relationship from that in whichthey are formed on the mandrels, to the position shown in FIG. 4, sothat the margins of each strip 24 are placed in back-to-back relation.

Methods suitable for commerical production of the tape are shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 in which a plurality of mandrels 34 is employed and cordis woven continuously about these to build up a wide mat of any desiredlength. In FIG. 5, the opposite faces of this mat are then covered withsheets 36 of paper, cloth, plastic film or the like, which are glued orotherwise bonded to the cord. The finished mat is then cut by suitableslitting knives (not shown) advanced against and along the oppositefaces of the mandrels, the knives being spaced on the center lines a--aof mandrels 34 to slit the composite mat lenthwise of the mandrels andform a plurality of separate ribbons or tapes. These are removed fromthe mandrels, as in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 illustrates a similar method ofmanufacture but in this case each mandrel 34 is first faced or woundwith the material which will serve as the carrier strips, and then thecord is woven about the mandrels in figure-8 manner as before.Alternatively, the tape can be woven without the mandrels, using thecarrier strips as the warp elements for the cross strands.

The tape hinge can be applied to the edges of the members to be joinedusing either set of diametrically opposed hinge quadrants for receivingand securing the members. Also various types of hinge arrangements canbe accommodated. This is illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12 of thedrawings. In each of these illustrations the members to be joined arereceived in the tape quadrants which do not contain carrier strips 24.For some applications. this has an advantage, as can be seen byreference to FIG. 7. Any tendency of strands 22 to peel away from thesurface of the hinged member A or B to which they are bonded is resistedby the interpositioning of the carrier strips 24. That is, strands 22must cut through the interposed carrier strip if forces are applied tomembers A and B tending to separate them bodily.

In FIG. 8, hinge 20 connects a relatively thick member C to a flatsurface D to permit swinging of member C through an arc of 90°. In FIG.9, member E is hinged to the flat surface D for swinging movementthrough an arc of 180°. In this illustration, member E is relativelythin and the legs of hinge 20 are secured to it along opposite marginsof the faces rather than along one edge and the adjacent face as isnecessary with a thick member.

FIGS. 10 and 11 also illustrate rolling hinges, the one in FIG. 10providing for 180° arcuate movement between the hinged members F and G,while FIG. 11 illustrates a hinge permitting 360° arc of movement formember I relative to member H. For this application, a centrally moreopen type of hinge is necessary. This can be readily provided simply byincreasing the distance between the mandrels 34 in forming the hinge.

Further strengthening of the attachment of the hinge to the hingedmembers can be provided, as shown in FIG. 12, by applying and bondingoverlying tapes 46 on one or both pairs of hinge legs.

For maximum strength in preventing separation of the hinged members attheir limiting position of arcuate movement, a hinge structure such asthat shown in FIG. 13 is useful. In this example, hinge 50 is generallysimilar to previously described hinge 20 except that some of thestrands, while extending transversely of the hinge axis, do not crosslaterally from one side to another in a given run of such strand; thatis, such strands start and end on the same lateral side of the axis inthat run. This is illustrated more particularly in FIG. 14 showing amethod of constructing hinge 50 of FIG. 13. As before, a jig is usedproviding spaced mandrels 34, and a length of cord 36 is wrapped aboutthe mandrels to form the strand runs. For clarity of illustration, theruns are shown in spread condition in the drawing but they wouldnormally be closely spaced in actual practice. In this example, cord 36is wound about the mandrels in alternate courses or runs, first with afigure-8 configuration in which strands 52 laterally cross the hingeaxis intermediate the mandrels. In the next course the strands 54 arewound so as to pass completely around the outside of both mandrelswithout crossing between the mandrels. In other words, while strands 52in transversly crossing the axis of the hinge move laterally from oneside to the other of the mandrels, alternate strands 54 remain on thesame lateral side of the mandrels.

In the resulting hinge construction illustrated in FIG. 13, (afterapplying carrier strips 24, cutting the terminal bends of the strands torelease the hinge from the jig and applying the hinge to members A andB), each strand 54 extends directly across the hinge axis from onemember to the other in the limiting position of the hinged members asshown. Such strands are thus in straight tension, providing maximumresistance to separation of the hinged members and to any tendencytoward peeling of the intermediate strands 52 from margins of the hingedmembers. In the alternate limiting position of members A and B, strands52 extend straight across the hinge axis and provide resistance toseparation.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a further modification of the precedingexample. In this example hinge 60 .[.incorporporates.]..Iadd.incorporates .Iaddend.an interlocking or overlapping of thestrands at the hinge axis. This is accomplished by winding cord 36 aboutmandrels 34 with a twist at each run, forming a series of interlockingclove hitches as shown in FIG. 16. It will be noted from the drawinghowever that although each strand 62 or 64 in any given run from onemandrel 34 to the other is positioned on the same lateral side of bothmandrels, the strand is laterally displaced intermediate the mandrels byintersection with and overlapping of the strand of the correspondinglyopposite run on the other side of the mandrels. The hinge 60 whichresults thus puts on strand in straight tension, e.g. strand 64 in FIG.15, in the hinged structure.

Another method of forming tape hinges of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18 wherein the cord used in forming the transverse strandsis not cut or severed as in the previous examples. In both of theseillustrations the carrier strips consist of pressure-sensitive tapes 72,74 and the hinged structure is formed using two pairs of the tape stripsin back-to-back relation, one pair on either side transversely of thehinge axis and each pair having the inner edges spaced from the other adistance sufficient to permit passage of the strands between the pairedstrips in passing from one lateral face to the other.

In forming this type of hinge structure, two separate lengths of cord 36are required. In FIG. 17, the two lengths are interwoven or interlockedintermediate the loop portions 76, 78 which are adhered to the faces ofthe strips. In FIG. 18 the arrangement is essentially the same but doesnot embody interlocking of the two strands within each loop.

Multiple cords are used in forming tape 80 also, as seen in FIG. 19.This tape can be formed as described in connection with FIGS. 1-4,except that instead of using a single strand of cord to form the runs, agroup 82 of parallel cords is woven about the mandrels. The number ofcords in the group will determine the angle or bias of the group inrespect to the axis of the X; the greater the number of cords, thegreater the bias angle.

A similar arrangement is shown in FIG. 19A where again a plurality ofcords is wound simultaneously as above, but in this case the cords.[.were.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.wound about a series of mandrels, as inFIG. 5. Depending on the width of the composite group of mandrels, eachrun of grouped cords 92 will cross the tape axis at little or no bias inconnecting carriers 24. In place of the grouped cords, webbing or tapeof various sorts can be used to provide equivalent connector means.

Attachment of the finished tape product to the members to be joined isfacilitated by incorporating pressure-sensitive adhesive with the tape,as produced, so that it is self-containined ready for application aspurchased. FIG. 20 illustrates such an arrangement. The basic tapestructure is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, but in this case tape 120includes bands of pressure-sensitive adhesive 102 extending lengthwiseof the tape on confronting faces of the carrier strips 124 in oppositequadrants of the X. In the preferred construction, adhesive 102 does notextend into the center of carriers 124, but is confined to the marginsof the tape. Temporary protection in the form of peel or release strips104 are applied over the adhesive, the strips being made wider than thebands on adhesive so as to overlap at the inner edge and provide aconvenient free tab 106 by which to start the peeling off of strips 104when the tape is to be applied to members to joined.

In attaching the tape, one release strip is first completely strippedfrom one leg and that leg is pressed along an edge of the member to bejoined. See FIG. 21. The adjacent leg of the tape is lifted to getaccess to free tab 106 of its release strip 104 which is then peeledback at 90° to the tape axis. As this strip 104 is pulled, it releasesnext to the X axis first and then diagonally outwardly across the faceof tape 120, pulling it firmly against the edge of the member to whichit is being attached. This leg of the tape is simultaneously pressedinto contact with the face of the member and the process is repeated insecuring the other two legs of the tape to the opposite member.

The arrangement not only facilitates the attachment process, providing asmooth, tight surface contact between the tape and members but aids ingetting alignment of the tape axis and the abutting edges of themembers, even if there is some initial misalignment due to improperstarting placement of the tape. By pulling the release strip in themanner discussed, the tape is made to lie straight and its natural axisis caused to conform closely with the edge of the member to which it isattached so as to produce a rigid axis in the finished structure. Inspeaking of "natural axis" above, this is intended to mean not so muchthe axis defined by the crossing strands in the tape as it exists beforeapplication to the edges of the numbers to be formed, but rather to thataxis defined by the crossing strands as this is developed upon securingthe tape to the members to be joined. The two conditions are identicalin the case of a perfectly applied tape to prefectly straight, alignededges of members to be joined. But such ideal condition seldom exists inpractice, and it is one of the virtues of the novel tape that suchperfect condition need not exist, because the tape will align itself toaccommodate irregularity of the edge and/or inexact application to thoseedges, without resulting in a loose or wobbly hinged joint. This featurearises inherently from the tape construction wherein the flexibleconnector strands, in crossing between web portions to which their endsare connected, are free to shift relative to each other, within ofcourse the limits of their points of connection to the longitudinal webportions.

Still another form of tape is shown in FIG. 22. Tape 220 is woven on asuitable loom to produce an integral structure in which weft threads 222of the webbing form the cross-connectors for marginal or selvageportions produced by interweaving threads 222 with longitudinal or warpthreads 223. Separate carrier members are accordingly not required inthis arrangement. Selfsticking adhesive and protective peel strips canof course be incorporated in this form of tape, similar to that,described above. Tape 220 can be produced initially in multiple widths,as shown in FIG. 23, by a process similar to that described inconnection with FIG. 5, but without using mandrels and slit on linesb--b to produce separate tapes.

Yet another form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25where a continuous strip 302 of paper or sheet plastic is slit insinusoidal manner along its longitudinal axis to produce complementaryleft and right strips or marginal portions 304, 306 having mutuallyprojecting fingers 308. These strips are then pressed laterally togetherto cause them to intermesh, with the fingers 308 of one overlapping therespective marginal portion 304 or 306 of the other. An imperforatestrip 310 is then applied to the intermeshed and overlapped firstmembers 304, 306, and bonded by gluing or welding to the tips of thefingers of those members. Strip 310 is creased longitudinally, causingthe free edges of the members to separate and form the X-like tape 320,as seen in FIG. 25.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show another tape structure 420 incorporating theinvention. In this case two strips 402, 406 of suitable sheet stock areslit longitudinally along a central sinusoidal line to produce left andright marginal portions 401, 403 and 405, 407, all having teeth 408.Strips 402 and 406 are brought together in such manner that the teeth ofone are out of phase, longitudinally of the tape, with those of theother so that the peaks of the teeth overlap. The overlapped peaks areglued or otherwise bonded together at 410, and the marginal portionsseparated to form the X-like configuration, as seen in cross-section inFIG. 27. Preferably the marginal halves of each strip 402, 406 are firstlaterally separated, as seen on enlarged scale in FIG. 28, before theoverlapping teeth 408 are bonded together. This provides more freedomand reduces binding along the axis of the tape. Again, the marginal webportions may have a band of self-sticking adhesive 412, by which tosecure the tape to the edges of the members to be joined, in which casea release or peel strip 414 is provided to protect the adhesion areasuntil the tape is to be used.

In FIGS. 29 to 31, a tape 520 is formed by joining two strips 502, 504by welding or gluing along a central portion or band 506, and thencutting a series of slots 508 across band 506, spaced longitudinallyalong the tape. Next, each strip 502, 504 is slit at 510, 512,respectively, longitudinally between slots 508 at alternate ends ofadjacent slots. Slits 510, 512 are also alternated in the confrontingstrips 502, 504 along the tape so as not to coincide at any point.Separating the legs or marginal portions of strips 502, 504 results inan X-shaped tape section, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31.

Application of tape to curved edges of members is illustrated in FIGS.32 and 33. In FIG. 32 a semiflexible member 602 has a curved edge 604which is to be joined to a similar curved edge of panel member 606 (seeFIG. 33). Tape 620 of the construction shown in FIG. 20 is used but tofacilitate obtaining a smooth fit of the tape to the curved edge, thecarrier strip members 624 of tape 620 are preferably formed of crepepaper to permit some stretching of the tape during application. When thefree edges of members 602 are separated, after curved edges 604 arejoined, a geodesic structure is obtained as seen in FIG. 33. Any slightlongitudinal accommodation necessary along curved edge 604 as thestructure is .[.foRmed.]. .Iadd.formed .Iaddend.is readily permitted bythe elasticity of tape 620. FIG. 33 also illustrates the use of lightweight, low cost laminated, foamed or .[.honey combed.]..Iadd.honeycombed .Iaddend.core/stressed skin panels to form geometricstructures, where the panels will not resist highly localized loadsimposed by the use of rivets or screws as fastening means. Ordinary flattape if used in such a construction may overcome the problem oflocalized attachment stress, but is .[.partIcularly.]..Iadd.particularly .Iaddend.vulnerable to peeling forces in thesituation here illustrated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible tape for joining mating edges ofadjacent members,said tape having an X-like configuration in crosssection and providing a longitudinally continuous structure adapted toextend along and be secured to the edges of the members to be joined sothat the axis of said X-like configuration coincides generally with thejuncture formed by the members to be joined, said tape comprisingcarrier strip means comprising pliable, longitudinally continuous,marginal web portions at the extremities of the legs of the X; andflexible, spaced, connector means running crosswise of and .[.beingsecured.]. .Iadd.bonded .Iaddend.to and interconnecting pairs of webportions, at least some of said connector means intersecting andcrossing other connector means to form said X-like configuration .[...]..Iadd., said flexible connector means in crossing between said webportions being free to shift relative to each other within the limitsdefined by their points of connection to the respective longitudinal webportions..Iaddend.
 2. A flexible tape as defined in claim 1, wherein atleast some of said connector means join pairs of transversely oppositeweb portions.
 3. A flexible tape as defined in claim 2, wherein saidcarrier strip means extends continuously between adjacent legs in eachof two opposite quadrants of the X-like configuration.
 4. A flexibletape as defined in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.23, .Iaddend.wherein saidadhesive is of the pressure-sensitive type and is confined to the outermargins of confronting faces of said carrier strip means, said tapefurther including temporary protective release strips covering saidadhesive but peelable therefrom to expose said adhesive when said tapeis applied to the members to be joined.
 5. A flexible tape as defined inclaim 4, wherein the protective release strips overlap the inner marginsof the adhesive to provide free tabs along such margins.
 6. A flexibletape as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector means are biasedlongitudinally of the tape axis.
 7. A flexible tape as defined in claim1, wherein said connector means comprise alternately crossing flexiblestrands.
 8. A flexible tape as defined in claim 1, wherein saidconnector means comprise alternately crossing groups of strands.
 9. Aflexible, continuous tape hinge for application along adjacent edges ofmembers to be hingedly joined, said hinge have an X-like configurationin cross section and said hinge comprisingcarrier strip means of pliablesheet material running lengthwise of the hinge on transversely oppositesides of its axis; and flexible strands running crosswise of said axisand carrier strip means, each strand having its cross-axis ends securedto faces of opposed carrier strip portions, at least some of saidstrands intersecting and crossing over other of said strands to form thehinge axis at their intersection.
 10. A tape hinge as defined in claim9, wherein the carrier strip portions are disposed in transverselyopposed quadrants of the X-like configuration.
 11. A tape hinge asdefined in claim 9, wherein the carrier strip portions in each quadrantare integrally joined along the hinge axis.
 12. A tape hinge as definedin claim 10, which further includes pressure-sensitive adhesive on theconfronting faces of the legs of the X-like configuration intransversely related quadrants.
 13. A tape hinge as defined in claim 12,wherein said adhesive coating is located on confronting faces of saidcarrier strips.
 14. A tape hinge as defined in claim 12, which furtherincludes flexible release strips covering said adhesive coating butpeelable therefrom to expose said adhesive upon application of the hingeto members to be hingedly joined.
 15. A tape hinge as defined in claim9, wherein each of said flexible strands running crosswise of said axisand carrier strip means has its cross-axis ends secured to faces of saidcarrier strip means over a substantial portion of the width thereof. 16.A tape hinge as defined in claim 15, which further includespressure-sensitive adhesive coating on at elast one tape face on eachside of the hinge axis.
 17. A tape hinge as defined in claim 16, whereinsaid pressure-sensitive adhesive coating is disposed on confrontingfaces of the legs of the X-like configuration in transversely relatedquadrants, said tape further including flexible release strips coveringsaid adhesive coating but peelable therefrom to expose said adhesiveupon application of the hinge to members to be hingedly joined.
 18. Atape hinge as defined in claim 9, wherein the carrier strip portions aredisposed in diametrically opposed quadrants of the X-like configurationand the strip portions in each quadrant are integrally joined along thehinge axis.
 19. A flexible tape for joining mating edges of adjacentmembers,said tape having an X-like configuration in crosssection andproviding a longitudinally continuous structure adapted to extend alongand be secured to the edges of members to be joined so that the axis ofsaid X-like configuration coincides generally with the juncture formedby the members to be joined, said tape comprising pliable longitudinallycontinuous carrier .[.strips.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.forming theextremities of the legs of the X .[.in transversely opposite quadrantsof the X.].; and flexible, spaced, connector means running crosswise ofand interconnecting .[.marginal portions of.]. opposite carrier.[.strips.]. .Iadd.means, all of .Iaddend.said connector meansintersecting and crossing .[.each other.]. alternately to .Iadd.joindiagonally opposite carrier means and .Iaddend.form said X-likeconfiguration.
 20. A flexible tape as defined in claim 19, wherein saidcarrier .[.strips.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.are formed of stretchablesheet material.
 21. A flexible tape as defined in claim 20 wherein saidcarrier .[.strips.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.are formed of crepe paper. 22.A flexible tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier strip meansare formed of stretchable sheet material.
 23. A flexible tape as definedin claim 1, which further includes adhesive disposed on confrontingfaces of said web portions in transversely opposed quadrants of the X,for securing said faces to edges of the members to be joined. .[.24. Aflexible tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible connectormeans, in crossing between said web portions to which they are connectedto form said X-like configuration, are free to shift relative to eachother within the limits defined by their points of connection to therespective longitudinal web portions..]..Iadd.
 25. A flexible tape forjoining mating edges of adjacent members,said tape having an X-likeconfiguration in cross-section and providing a longitudinally continuousstructure adapted to extend along and be secured to the edges of membersto be joined so that the axis of said X-like configuration coincidesgenerally with the juncture formed by the members to be joined, saidtape comprising carrier strip means comprising pliable, longitudinallycontinuous, marginal web portions at the extremities of the legs of theX; flexible, spaced, connector means running crosswise of and beingsecured to and interconnecting pairs of web portions, at least some ofsaid connector means intersecting and crossing other connector means toform said X-like configuration; and adhesive means disposed onconfronting faces of said web portions in transversely oppositequadrants of the X for securing said faces to edges of the members to bejoined..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 26. A flexible tape for joining mating edges ofadjacent members, said tape having an X-like configuration incross-section and providing a longitudinally continuous structureadapted to extend along and be secured to the edges of the members to bejoined so that the axis of said X-like configuration coincides generallywith the juncture formed by the members to be joined, said tapecomprising pliable, longitudinally continuous, film forming theextremities of the legs of the X; and flexible, spaced, connector meansrunning cross-wise of and being joined to said film on both sides of theX axis, said connector means intersecting and crossing each otheralternately to form said X-like configuration..Iaddend.